Rediscovering learning: a survey of factors that affect student learning in engineering education

Innovations in technology, curricula and programs in engineering education are all directed toward the improvement of learning for engineering and technology students. In pursuit of these beneficial tools as a support to learning, the basics of learning, as the student sees them and as proven by experience and research, must not be forgotten. Extensive surveying has been done in the College of Engineering and Technology at Brigham Young University to identify factors that promote learning. Over 1000 students and alumni in the college were surveyed to identify the key facilitators of learning. Results show an interesting shift of some factors which are important to active students but not as important to alumni, while other factors maintain a strong position regardless of the student´s level of or the alumnus´s time in the field. Some of these factors include faculty knowledge and interest in teaching, grades and grading methods, hands-on experience and type of homework. A report is also given of a survey of students who had participated in classes that use a teaching method in which students are given full control over their grade. The intent of this method is to oblige students to accept responsibility for learning and to be more interested in understanding and applying the course material than in competing for a grade